Slide fastener



H. BONBRIGHT SLIDE FASTENER Nav. 4, 1941.y

Filed Oct. 3, 1940 INVENTOR i /foBn/erianrglzz.

L l QAEY Patented Nov. 4, 1941 azota-13 UNiTED STATES PATENT @FFME- A SLIDE FfAs'rnNEn ll'ioward Bonbright, Grosse Pointe, Mich. v

Application October 3, 1940, Serial No. 359,489

(Cl. .Z4-205.5)

16 Claims.

'I'his invention relates to a slide fastener device or hookless fastener adapted for application to parts ofthe fastener device in locked position.

and use with articles of wearing apparel, or the like, to close openings or plackets in said articles.

lated to close the fastener, cannot come in contact. with or accidentally engage garments or other articles or material located adjacent to or which underlie that to which thefastener .device is attached. 1

' Another object of the invention is to provide an improved fastener of the foregoing character which has the safety feature of preventing its interlocking parts from coming into contact with or seizing and causing damage to articles or ma. terial underlying that to which the fastener is applied.

A/ further object is to provide an improvedfastener of the foregoing character having a safety device or garment deflector guard in which the guardlies substantially in the plane of the body portion or slide member of the fastener when the intertting parts of the fastener are in locked condition.

Fig. 4 is a view similar to Fig. 3 but showing the fastener parts in-unlocked position; and

Figs. 5 and 6 are views similar to Fig. 3, showthe present invention.

Before-"explaining in detail the present invention it is=to.be understood that the invention is notlimited in its application to the details of construction and arrangement of parts illustrated inthe accompanying drawing, since the invention is capable of other embodiments and i of being practiced or carried out in various ways;` Also it is to be understood that the phraseology.

or terminology employed herein is for the purpose of description and not of limitation, and it i`s not intended to limit the invention claimed here-u have come into wide use, especially in connection Another object of the invention is to provide an improved slide fastener device having the safetyfeature as aforesaid to prevent seizure of material underlying the fastener elements and in which the underside or face of the body portion or slide member may be made relatively flat and smooth. y

Thefforegoing and other objects-and advantages of the invention will Iappear from the following description and appended claims when I considered in connection with the accompanying drawing forming a part of this specication, wherein like reference characters designate corresponding parts in the several views.

In said drawing:

Fig. 1 is a fragmentary top plan view or front rear elevation.- of the Vdevice` of Fig. 1, with the under garment or article of apparel removed.

with garments or articles Iof wearing apparel. Such devices are, generally speaking, satisfactory. All such fasteners heretofore known, however,

have had the objectionable feature of becoming tearing or cutting the material. This causes not only inconvenience ,to the user but the damage to the apparel is quite considerable, necessitating -repairs and often replacement of the articles so damaged; Moreover, where the garment or article of apparel is of the character which is to be worn next to the -body of the wearer; such as a foundation garment of fine texture, inJury has.

been caused to the wearerdue to thev fact that in closing the fastener. the fastener elements or teeth thereof have seized and torn the flesh of the wearer. 'This is an extremely dangerous con- Fig. 3 is an enlarged vertical sectional viewtaken substantially along the line 3-3 of Fig. 1,A

dition which exists with all known fasteners of the slide or hookless type.

Ladies shops and the like are constantly receiving complaints from customers who, 4vwhile trying on a garmentjlmvingi a slide'fastener. damage one of their under garinents byvirtue of\ catching it between the jaws of the teeth or.V fastener elements of the slide fastener on the store garment.

It is, therefore, one of the important features of the present invention to provide an improved safety slide fastener which entirely overcomes the foregoing objectionable and dangerous features of previously known slide or hookless fasteners.

Referring now particularly to Figs. 1 to 4 inclusive of the drawing, there is shown one form of the present embodiment of the invention applied, merely by way of example, to the outer garment or article of wearing apparel, such as a 'ladys dress. The dress or other outer-gar ment of these figures is shown at A and is divided at a `predetermined point tok provide an opening or placket B.

Underlying the dress or garment A is another garment or article of wearing apparel C, such as a slip or other undergarment.

The slide fastenerv device or hookless fastener of the present form of the invention comprises, as shown, two series of separable intertting and interlocking staggered fastener elements or teeth'V and |I, each of which may be attached to a separate strip of tape or other fabric (not shown) which is stitched or otherwise attached to the under face of the garment A at the opposed longitudinal edges thereof to define the opening or placket B. The device also comprises a U-shaped slide member or body portion I2, which, as shown, flares outwardly to provide a wider diameter at its forward or lead end I3 than at its inner or following end I4. The slide or body member |2 has a pair of longitudinal grooves or channels formed therein and as seen in Figs. 3 and 4, is substantially U-shaped. This slide member thus receives the two sets or series of teeth or fastener elements |0 and in the grooves or channels thereof and serves to'interengage and lock them together and/or separate or disengage them, dependent upon which, way the slide is moved relative to the supporting material.

As seen in Fig. 2, the back` face or underside I5 of the slide member may be of similar shape or conguration to its front faceor upper side, shown in Fig. 1.

The slide member |2 is provided with` an operating member or handle shown as a whole at I6. This' member |6 may be somewhat longer than the slide I2 and as clearly seen in Figs. 1

' 'and 3, projects considerably beyond its inner or following end or edge I4. The handle or operating member I6 is also extended beyond the forward or lead end Ilof the slideto provide,.as shown, an integral extension forming a deilector guard, plow or lead end portion I1 which is curved around the end of the slide toward the back face I5, see Fig. 2. 'I'he terminal end of the guard I1 is reduced or narrowed in width to provide a hinge projection I1a`fltting between two spaced ears |9 extended forwardly from the slide and arranged at their under sides substantially flush with the back face l5 of the slide as shown in Figs. 3 and 4. The projection I1a may have lateral pin formations (not shown) extending through apertures in the ears I9 to hinge the handle I6 to the slide, or the projection |1a may be pierced transversely to receive a separate hinge pin (not shown) extending therethrough and through theapertures in the ears I9.

The handle member is provided with a penetrating locking spur or lug 22 which, when the moving the slide member.

handle member or tab I6 is in the position of Figs. 1 and 3, extends through an opening 9 in the slide member |2 and engages between a pair of adjacent teeth of the series l0 to hold the slide fastener in position against sliding movement relative to the garment A.

As clearly seen in Fig. 4, lwhen vthe handle member I6 is raised preparatory to sbifting'the elements or teeth I0 and II of the slide fastener.

Thus, the slide can now be operated with safety and Without the hazard or danger of contacting or grabbing the underlying material.

Referring now to Fig. 5, there is shown a somewhatmodiiiedsform of the fastener embodying the present invention. In this form of the invention the slide member or body portion of the device. is shown as a whole at |20 and is provided at its upper end with an annular rib |6I. The slide has a back wall or under face |50 which is connected with the front face of the slide by means of an integral end wall or web member |2I. The forward end of the member |50 is provided with ears I5 |.y As in the preceding form of the invention, the slide member is of substantially U-shape and is provided with a pair of grooves or channels to -receive the fastener elements or teeth I0 and II. An operating handle or tab, shown as a whole at |60, is provided for The forward end of the handle member |60 is provided with an annular rib |62 and adjacent the forward end, the member |60 is provided with a hinge member or projection |59. The device of the present form includes also a deflector guard, plow or lead member, shown as a whole at |10. The handle member or tab |60 is\hingedly connected with the member |20 by means of a pin |63 which extends through openings formed in the projection |6I and in the hinge projection |59 of handle |60. The deflector guard |10 is pivotally attached to the annular projection |62 by means of a pin I1I. This guard member extends rearwardly in spaced relation to the end wall |2| of the slide A member and its opposite end extends between and is pivotally connected to the ears I5I. The handle member |60 is provided with a spur or lug |22 similar to the spur 22 of the preceding form of the invention. As shown in dotted lines. when the handle member |60 is lifted upwardly, it pivots about the pivot pin |63 whereupon the guard member |10 pivots about its connecting pivots and assumes the position in which it is shown in dotted lines. Thus, when handle |60 is lifted to operate the slide the guard |10 is shifted transversely to the plane of engagement of the fastener elements and rearwardly thereof to defleet or push aside the underlying material C and prevent its being caught between the fastener elements. When the parts are in the full line position, the spur or lug |22 engages between a pair of adjacent fastener elements to hold the parts in locked position against movement relative to the garment.

Fig. 6 of the drawing Ashows a somewhat further modified form of a slide fastener device embodying the present invention. In this form, there is shown a substantially U-shaped slide member or body portion indicated as a whole at 320. This member is provided with a forward wall or web -and li.

anemie member sas and wana back wan or face sse. The end wall or web member 32E is provided with 'a narrow hinge projection 323.

' The device of the present form of the invention` is provided with an operating handle or tab member, shown as a whole at 36d. The inner face of the handle member carries a spur orstud 322 similar Vto the studs or spurs shown in the precedably in the form of perforated ears which ern-` brace with the projection 323 formed on theend wall 32l. The handle member is assembled 'with the slide member 32D by means of a transversely extending hinge pin 362 which pivotally connects the ears on the projection 36% with the member 323. The handle member 35d at its forward end is extended and `provided with an inwardly or rearwardlyr curved nose 37d which provides the deflector guard or plow of the device. It will be seen that this guard member 318 is spaced forwardly of the end wall 32! and projects into the space between the fastener elements or teeth l@ When it is desired to slide the fastener relative to the fastener element and the garment upon which they are attached, the handle member 360 is lifted or raised and will pivot about the pivot pin 362 to force the deflector guard or lead member 3l!! to contact with the underlying fabric C. This movement pushes the fabric C back so as to displace it sufficiently to prevent it from becoming caught by the teeth or fastener elements I@ and Ii4 when the slide member is operated. This last described position of the parts is indicated in broken lines in Fig. 6.

From the foregoing, it will be seen that I have provided several forms embodying the present invention, each of which has the feature of providing a safety guard or deiiector member for nected to said slide and. shiftable in a direction transverse' to the plane of engagement of said elements and rearwardly of the plane of thevinner face of the slide a substantial -distance whereby to deect underlying material out of the path of said elements.

4. A slide fastener device comprising two series ofmating fastener elements adapted to be se cured along opposed edges of material to be joined together, a slide shiftable along said edges to engage said elements, and ashiftable handle connected to said slide, said handle' having a guard member operatively connected thereto and adapted to be moved thereby to a position rearwardly of the plane of engagement of said elements and also rearwardly of the plane of the inner face the 4purpose of displacing fabric adjacent to andy of mating fastener elements adapted to be se.`

cured along opposed edges of material to be joined together, a slide shiftable along said edges to engage said elements, and means movable with the slide and shiftable in a direction transverse to the plane of engagement of said elements and rearwardly of the plane of the inner face of the slide a substantial distance whereby to deiiect underlying material out of the path of said elements.'

2. A slide fastener device comprising two series of mating fastener elements adapted to `be secured along opposed edges of material to be joined together, a slide shiftable along said edges to engage said elements 'and means carried by said slide andshiftablein a direction transverse to the plane of engagement of said elements and rearwardly of the plane of the inner face of the slide a substantial distance whereby to deflect underlying material out of the path of said elements.

3. A slide fastener device comprising two series of mating fastener elements adapted to be secured along opposed edges of material to be joined together, a slide shiftable along said edges to engage said elements, and means pivotally conof the slide whereby to deflect underlying material out of the path of said elements.

5. A slide fastener device comprising two series of `mating fastener elements adapted to be secured along opposed edges of material to be joined together, a slide shiftable along said edges to engage said elements, and a shiftable handle con nected to said slide, said handle having a guard member operatively xed thereto and adapted to be moved thereby to a position rearwardly of the plane of engagement of said elements and also rearwardly of the plane of the inner face of the slide a substantial distance whereby to deflect underlying material out of the path of said elements.

6. A slide fastener device comprising two series of mating fastener elements adapted to be se-l cured along opposed edges of material to be joined together, a slide shiftable along said edges to engage said elements, a shiftable handle connected to said slide and a guard member operatively pivoted to the handle and adapted to be moved thereby to a position rearwardly of the plane of engagement of said elements to deflect underlying material out of the path of said elements.

7. A slide fastener device comprising two series of mating fastener elements adapted to be se cured along opposed edges of i material to be joined together, a slide shiftable along said edges to engage said elements, a shiftable handle connected to said slide, and aguard member extended from the handle beyond the forward end of the slide and having a curved working end lying between said series of elements and mov- .able rearwardly of the plane of engagement thereof and also rearwardly of the plane of the inner face of the slide when the handle is shifted to operative position.

8. A slide fastener device comprising two series of mating fastener elements adapted to be securedY along opposed edges of material to be joined together, a'slide shiftable along said edges to engage said elements, a shiftable handle connected to said slide and a guard member extending beyond the forward end of the slide and operatively connected to the handle and adapted to be moved thereby to a position rearwardly of the plane of engagement of said elements to deiieot underlying material out of the path of said elements.

end lying forwardly of' 10. A slide fastener device comprising two series of mating fastener elements adapted to be secured along opposed edges of material to be joined together, a slide shiftable along said edges to engage said elements, and a handle pivoted to the slide adjacent the forward end, said handle having a deector guard normally lying-beyond said forward end, said handle being shiftable to move said guard rearwardly of the plane of engagement of said elements.

1l. A slide fastener device comprising two series of mating fastener elements adapted to be secured along opposed edges of material to be joined together, a. slide member for engaging said elements, a handle member pivotally mounted upon said slide for moving the same, and a guard connected to the slide member and shiftable by said handle member into position rearwardly of the plane of the inner face of the slide member to displace material underlying said slide member to thereby prevent its being engaged by the fastener elements when the slide member is moved.-

12. A slide fastener device comprising two series of mating fastener elements adapted to be secured along opposed edges of material to be joined together, a slideA member for engaging said elements, and a handle pivotally connected to said slide member, said handle having a deector guard, said guard being shiftable rearwardly of the plane of engagement of said elements when said handle is swung to operative position.

13. A slide fastener device comprising a pair of longitudinal strips provided with cooperating fastener elements on their adjacently disposed longitudinal edges, a slide member for operating said elements, and a defiector guard pivotally connected to said slide providing a handle for moving the same, said guard in its'normal position lying substantially inthe plane of the slide member and being shiftable relative to said slide into position rearwardly of the plane oi the inner face of the slide member to displace material underlying the slide member to thereby prevent its being engaged by the fastener elements when the slide member is moved.

14. A slide fastener device comprising a pair of longitudinal strips provided with cooperating fastener elements on their adjacently disposed longitudinal edges, a slide member for operating said elements, said slide member having grooves therein for receiving said fastener elements, and a defiector guard hingedly connected to said slide member having a handle portion for moving the slide, said guard normally lying substantially in the plane of the slide member and having a substantially hook-like lead portion integral with the handle portion and movable thereby into position substantially rearward of the plane of the inner face of the slide member to engage and displace material underlying the slide member to thereby prevent its being engaged by the fastener elements when said slide member is moved.

' 15. A slide fastener device comprising a pair of longitudinal strips provided with cooperating fastener elements on their adjacently disposed longitudinal edges, a slide member for operating said elements, said slide member having grooves therein for receiving said fastener elements, a deflector guard hingedly connected to said slide member and having a Working end portion lying substantially in the plane of the slide member when in its normal position, said portion normally extending into the space between the fastener elements when in unlocked condition and movable into position to underlie said elements'and the inner face of the slide member, and displace material adjacent the underside of said member to thereby prevent its being engaged by the fastener elements when the slide member is moved.

16. A slide fastener device comprising a pair of longitudinal strips provided with cooperating fastener elements on their adjacently disposed llongitudinal edges, a slide member having an l slide member into position to displace fabric underlying the slide member to thereby prevent its being engaged by the fastener elements when 4 

